07 January 2012

By Patrick Butler | ResonateNews.com

 

GARDEN VALLEY, Texas — His expectations were admittedly low at his local church when pastor David Hickey viewed a live downstream of The Response prayer gathering at Reliant Stadium in Houston last August. The “prayer for the nation event” had been called for by Texas Gov. Rick Perry and the premise seemed to be ripe for a conflict of spiritual and political interest.

Hickey, pastor of Community Christian Fellowship, had come to the downstream for a three-hour “shift” to be with his congregation, but ended up staying for the entire seven-hour event.

“I just couldn't leave it,” he said. “It was that compelling. I remember thinking, 'this isn't the political rally I heard some say it would be. This is the real deal — 44,000 people really calling on God to change the direction of their lives, their communities, their state and the nation.

At the end of The Response, Hickey had one question.

“I needed to respond to what I'd seen,” he said. “I asked, 'What am I going to do about it?'”

Hickey wasn't alone. Talking to various church and ministry leaders around Garden Valley, he discovered a strong desire for corporate prayer. The Church United in Prayer event was slowly born through the relational, informal contacts in coffee shops, during phone conversations and in ad hoc meetings.

So many people were interested in corporate prayer, Hickey said, that the event had to be broken up into two dates: Jan. 14 in Garden Valley and June 9 in Lindale. Both events are called The Church United in Prayer.

“It was kind of amazing,” he said. “There wasn't a building near us that could hold everybody wanting to come pray — to pray! When have you heard of that before?”

From 9:30 a.m. To 1 p.m. on Saturday, Community Christian Fellowship will kick off the first of three Church United in Prayer events in Smith County in 2012. Worship leaders Paul Baloche, Jonathan Williams and Josh Langer will play continuously during the event, while each hour will feature different ministry leaders leading various forms of congregational prayers, so called “rapid-fire” prayers by congregational members from the platform, small group prayers in the audience, platform-led intercessions by leaders and more.

Artists will render canvas artworks up front during the three-hours. A written “feedback” pad will be available for those attending with special thoughts or inspirations to be read later from the platform by event leaders.

A Web page, www.churchunitedinprayer.com features endorsements from ministry leaders, a vision and a purpose statement, who is behind the organizing of the event. A Church United In Prayer facebook page has been set up to facilitate any up-to-the minute information. Artwork, songs and encouragements have been posted in the days leading up to Jan. 14 from as far away as Ireland.

“The Church United in Prayer is made up of Christians from many denominations focused on a single and central goal,” the Web site states. “To ask God to forgive our sins, heal our land, hear our earnest prayers and praise heart-felt thanksgiving and humble spirit.”

“Official” organization has purposely been kept to a minimum.

“There is no board of directors, no 501C3 nonprofit incorporation, no bank account and no mechanism for collecting or distributing monies in the Jan. 14 event,” the site says. “These free events are the outgrowth of the desires of believers to honor God and petition Him for His presence, favor and healing. There will be no offering taken.”

None of the planned activities on Jan. 14 will be relevant, said Hickey, if “God doesn't show up.”

“We must pray to God for his blessings or this entire thing will be in vain. We can't do this just to entertain ourselves. So we're asking for nothing less than a visitation. No one in the country knows the way out of the mess we are in. Only God can lead us now.”

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